Head-harness for foot-ball players.



Patented Mar. u, |2902.

G. PIERCE. HEAD HARNESS'FO'R FOOT BALL PLAYERS.

(Application led July 9, 1901.)

(In Mode.)

.THE cams serias no. snow-urna wnsnmsoN, u, c.

UNirnn rares PATENT erica.

GEORGE L. PIERCE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO A. G. SPALDING Y & BROS., OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPO- RATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

HEAD-HARNESS Foa FOOT-BALL PLAYERS.

SEEGXFCTIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,986, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed July 9, 1901. Serial No. 67,597. (No model.)

To all when@ it r11/cry concern.'

Beit known that I, GEORGE L. Pinnen, a citizen of the United States, whose residence and post-office address is borough of B rooklyn, in the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head-Harness for Foot-Ball Players, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved head-harness or head-protector forfoot-ball players which may be worn withoutdiscomfortandshalleectuallyprotectthe head and the ears against injury by blows or otherwise. ln accordance with the invention the cover for the head comprises two shells of different depth which are secured together at or near their edges, the outer shell being of relatively hard and tough material and separated, except at its edges, from the inner shell, which may be of relatively softer inaterial and adapted to t upon the head of the wearer. The earpieces, which are attached to the head-cover, are so formed as to protect the ears against direct blows and also against being torn by glancing blows, while they are also made comfortable to the wearer.

^ The invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in side elevation of the improved head-harness. Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section on the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The outer shell o'. is preferably made of soleleather or other similar material which shall be sufficiently tough and hard to resist blows without being unduly heavy. It may be conveniently formed in two segments stitched along a central line, as indicated at b. The inner shell c is also preferably formed of leather or other similar material and is preferably softer and more pliant thanA the outer shell. It may be formed in one piece, and having less depth than the outer shell c is secured to said outer shell at or near the edge, so that a space a is left between the two shells above and about the head of the wearer. The inner shell is intended to lit upon the head of the wearer, and the space between the two shells is such that when the cover is supported by the Ahead of the wearer no blow of ordinary severity can indent the outer shell sufficiently to bring it in contact with the inner shell. The impact of any blow upon the outer shell is thus distributed, and no injury results to the wearer. Both the inner and the outer shells are provided with numerous perforations, as at d, which afford free ventilation.

ln a suitable position at each side of the head-cover is secured an earpiece e, which is preferably formed of relatively stiff leather and is cupped or has its edges turned inward, as at f, so that no blow upon the side of the head shall affect the ear. For the comfort of l the wearer a substantially annular pad g is secured to the inner side of the earpiece, such pad being made of felt or other suitable maferial. Being annular and surrounding the opening h in the earpiece the pad does` not interfere with the hearing of the wearer, while the inturned edges protect the ear Vfrom direct blows, as above stated, and also diminish the liability of the earpiece to be torn off by a glancing blow and the danger of injury to the ear of the wearer at the same time. The head-cover may be heldin position upon the head of the wearer by any convenient means, but preferably by an elastic strap t', which is passed through suitable openings k in the lower ends of the earpieces, the ends of such elastic strap being fastened directly together or by a fastening-cord Z.

It will be observed that when the headharness is made in a workmanlike manner of leather or other similar material the head of the wearer will be amply protected against injury by blows, while at the saine time it lits comfortably upon the head of the wearer and causes him no discomfort by reason of its weight or any lack of sufficient ventilation.

l claim as my invention- 1. Ahead-harness comprising an outer shell of relatively tough and hard material, an inner shell to fit upon the head of the wearer and of less depth than the outer shell, said shells being secured together at their edges, and

IOO

means to secure said shells upon the head of the wearer, substantially as shown and described.

2. A head-harness comprising an outer shell of relatively tough and hard material, an inner shell to fit upon the head of the wearer and of less depth than the outer one, said shells being secured togetherat their edges and each of said shells having numerous perforations for ventilation and means to secure said shells on the head 0f the wearer, substantially as shown and described.

3. A head-harness comprising an outershell of relatively tough and hard material, an inner shell to fit upon the head of the wearer and of less depth than the outer shell, said shells being secured together at their edges, earpieces of relatively hard material, secured to said shells, said earpieces being cupped, and means to secure said shells and earpieces upon the head of the wearer, substantially as shown and described.

4. A head-harness comprising an outer shell of relatively tough and hard material, an inner shell to ft upon the head ofthe wearer and of less depth than the outer shell, said shells being secured together at their edges, and an elastic strap connected to opposite sides of said shells, substantially as shown and described.

5. A head-harness comprising a protective cover for the head, earpieces of relatively hard material secured to said cover, said earpieces being cupped, an elastic strap passed through openings in the lower ends of said earpieces, and a cord to connect the ends of said strap, substantially as shown and described.

This specilication signed and witnessed this 8th day of July, A. D. 1901.

GEORGE L. PIERCE.

In presence of- RoswnLL S. NICHOLS, LUcIUs E. VARNEY. 

